MADELEINE McCann’s parents faced fresh heartache today as a second criminal investigator claimed their daughter “died in the holiday apartment”.

American profiler Pat Brown brutally insisted “Madeleine is dead”, adding in an outrageous rant: “There’s no point spending all of this money as nothing they do is going to make that child be found alive.”

She told Australian website news.com.au she believes Maddie was never snatched, saying: “An abduction was extremely unlikely based on the amount of time, evidence at the scene and every other shred of evidence there has ever been.”

She believes the three-year-old died in an accidental death that was “covered up” through “neglect and possible medication.”

She added: “It’s my belief the body was moved to a desolate location and will never be found.”

The author and TV crime analyst spoke out after Scotland Yard was granted an extra £85,000 to fund the search for another six months as detectives seek to quiz another witness.

Ms Brown said: “There are other children missing in the UK who aren’t getting this attention that the money should have been spent on.”

Her astonishing attack continued as she claimed the Met Police made a mistake by ruling out suspects early on.

She told the website: “You only eliminate someone as a suspect if they have an alibi and could absolutely not have committed the crime. It shouldn’t be based on theories.

“Their focus was on finding a kidnapper. But the evidence supports the theory of an accident occurring through neglect and possible medication.”

She said that whilst there was “no evidence of an abduction” it couldn’t be ruled out.

Former GP Kate, 49, and heart doctor Gerry, 48, from Rothley, Leics, are clinging onto a glimmer of hope their daughter could still be alive. She would now be nearly 14.

The couple’s spokesman Clarence Mitchell said today: “Kate and Gerry will not be fuelling any of this pure speculation with any comment whatsoever.”

A source close to the family added: “There is no proof that Madeleine died in the holiday apartment or anywhere else, and until there is any shred of evidence her parents believe their daughter could still be alive.

“This so called criminal expert is regurgitating claims made by former Portuguese police officer Goncalo Amaral, she is repeating all the old assertions it seems for shock value.

“Kate and Gerry took legal action against Mr Amaral and they won the case, although they later lost it on appeal.

“They don’t want to be litigious, and they can’t sue everyone, but it appears that people are saying whatever they like.”